When you think of Wisconsin, waterfalls are probably not the first thing that pops into your head. As a lifelong Wisconsin resident, waterfalls aren’t something I associate with the state. But as I planned out my trip to the Apostle Islands and northern Wisconsin, I found myself padding out my trip with stops at waterfalls across the region. There are a lot of waterfalls to choose from and some are fantastic and worthy of a detour.
About Northern Wisconsin
Since this article will be focused on waterfalls in northern Wisconsin, I think it will help to define what exactly I mean by that. Wisconsinites will typically just refer to the entire region as “up north”, but I think for the purposes of this article, it’s a bit vague.
So in this article, I’ll specifically be referring to waterfalls that can be found in Douglas County, Bayfield County, Ashland County, and Iron County. These four counties stretch across the very northern part of the state stretching from Minnesota to Michigan and bordering Lake Superior. You’ll also find the Apostle Islands here, but for the purposes of this articles, we’ll just be focusing on the mainland.
Waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin
Believe it or not, this is not a list of every waterfall in northern Wisconsin. On my trip, I tried to cram in as many as I could, but a few just slipped through the cracks. Still, I feel confident in stating that these are some of the best.
This list is in no particular order.
Interstate Falls
Interstate Falls is 18 feet high, but it felt much larger than that to me. Maybe that’s because it was the first waterfall I visited in northern Wisconsin and it was bigger than I expected.
This waterfall unsurprisingly straddles the Wisconsin-Michigan state line (do you understand why it’s called Interstate Falls?). To get here, you’ll have a short hike to reach the falls. In total, I logged 0.8 miles round trip and 70 feet of elevation.
Saxon Falls
When you arrive at Saxon Falls, you might be a bit confused as you’ll come up to power equipment. That’s because there’s a substation here, but there is access to the waterfalls. Just follow the signs to “Saxon Falls Viewing”. It’s a very short walk from the parking area (0.05 miles each way).
While I think Saxon Falls has potential to be amazing (it’s 90 feet and is one of the top five tallest waterfalls in Wisconsin), the angle to view the falls is awkward. Perhaps if you walked further you’d find a better view, but there’s so many other waterfalls on this list that can be viewed without having to hunt for a view. If you’re in the area though, it’s worth a quick stop.
Superior Falls
This is another waterfall that straddles the Wisconsin-Michigan state line. If I’m honest, when I was here, my phone’s gps showed that I was in Michigan, not Wisconsin, but I’m including it on this list anyway.
Like Saxon Falls, Superior Falls is located near a substation, but there are signs to point you to the viewing areas. There are two different places to view the falls. There’s the Upper View and the Lower View.
I started with the Upper View which was great and made Superior Falls one of my favorites that I had seen on this trip to northern Wisconsin. When I returned to my car, a couple asked if I had visited the falls and I said yes. They asked me if I went all the way to the river. I hadn’t realized I could. So I went back to the Upper Falls viewpoint.
If you follow the fence, you’ll get to a place where you can go down and get closer to the falls. It should go without saying that you should be careful, but if you’re a little adventurous (and willing to walk on a steep, uneven terrain), you can get some really nice views. I’d argue that these views are even better than the main viewpoint.
You won’t have to walk far, my tracker showed 0.5 miles and that’s with the backtrack to my car. I also logged 100 feet of elevation gain, though that elevation gain was because of the rock scrambling to try to get better views.
As far as the Lower Falls view point, I skipped it. I had planned to go, but the couple I ran into told me that it wasn’t worth it in their opinion. Yes it’s a different perspective, but from the bottom of the falls, it’s hard to see the actual falls. Though, it looks like it might be a decent spot for a picnic as I did pass a family heading down that way with a wagon and all of their things.
Foster Falls
Foster Falls is one of a few waterfalls on the Potato River and is located just north of Upson, Wisconsin. It’s 25 feet high and is a nice falls if you can get a good view.
The distance from the parking lot to the falls is short (I only logged 0.1 miles), but the terrain is uneven and you need to watch your step. Compared to other waterfalls on this list, it can feel like a bit of an adventure getting to the falls. For that reason, this is one that I’d consider skipping if you have limited mobility or don’t like the idea of climbing on rocks.
Also as a note, you can use Google Maps to get you to the general area of Foster Falls. However, Google Maps told me I had arrived and there was nothing even remotely resembling a parking area. Follow the road and turn right. You will eventually come to a place that is very clearly meant for parking.
Potato River Falls
Unsurprisingly, Potato River Falls is also on the Potato River. The falls are large, towering around 90 feet high and that makes it one of the more impressive waterfalls on this list.
There are two viewing areas at Potato River Falls and both involve stairs. The Upper Falls is a 0.35 miles round trip from the parking lot and has 131 stairs. The Lower Falls is 0.4 miles round trip and has 197 stairs. So in total, I logged 0.75 miles and 190 feet of elevation gain (though all of that elevation gain came through stairs). If you’re here and able to, I recommend going to both viewing areas. Both are nice and worth a visit. That said, if I had to choose, I think the Lower Falls view point is ever so slightly better.
As a note, be careful on these stairs. I’m not the most graceful person to begin with (as evidenced by my hiking disaster at Rocky Mountain National Park), but I struggled on these stairs. I don’t know if it was the spacing or something else, but I slid and nearly fell more times than I’d like to admit.
Copper Falls
There’s a handful of waterfalls at Copper Falls State Park and the first one I’ll cover is the falls that gives the state park its name. Copper Falls on located on the Bad River and is about 40 feet high.
To reach the viewing area for Copper Falls, you’ll need to hike on the Doughboy Trail. This short loop is excellent and not only takes you to Copper Falls, but also brings you past Brownstone Falls and the Cascades.
Note that Copper Falls is located within Copper Falls State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Brownstone Falls
Like Copper Falls, Brownstone Falls can also be reached on the Doughboy Trail at Copper Falls State Park. That said, Brownstone Falls is actually part of the Tyler Forks River, not the Bad River.
While Brownstone Falls is shorter than Copper Falls (Brownstone Falls is only 30 feet tall), I found Brownstone Falls to be prettier than Copper Falls.
Note that Brownstone Falls is located within Copper Falls State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Cascades at Copper Falls State Park
I picked up a brochure at my hotel in Ashland that covered 21 waterfalls in northern Wisconsin and for some reason, the Cascades at Copper Falls State Park weren’t included (but three other waterfalls at the park were). But this is my list of northern Wisconsin waterfalls and I’m choosing to include the Cascades.
So why am I including them? Quite honestly, the Cascades were my favorite view along the Doughboy Trail at Copper Falls State Park and I think that should be enough to earn them a spot on this list.
Note that the Cascades is located within Copper Falls State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Big Manitou Falls
Big Manitou Falls is the largest waterfall in Wisconsin coming in at over 160 feet tall. As a lifelong Wisconsinite, I didn’t even realize we had waterfalls that tall until I started planning my trip.
Manitou Falls, both Big Manitou Falls and Little Manitou Falls (covered next), are located within Pattison State Park and are part of the Black River. Despite being in a state park, you don’t need to walk or hike far to see the falls.
There are two viewpoints for Big Manitou Falls. For simplicity, I’ll refer to them as the north viewpoint and the south viewpoint. There is a parking lot just across the street from the south viewpoint (which is outside of the entrance station but still requires a park sticker), but you don’t have to park here. You can also park in the larger lot (after the entrance station) and follow the paved trail to the falls, but you’ll reach the north viewpoint first. A bridge connects the two sides of the falls making it easy for you to see Big Manitou Falls from both viewpoints without too much effort.
In my opinion, the south viewpoint is better. The angle is better and you get to look at the falls straight on. That’s not to say that the northern viewpoint isn’t nice, but it can be a bit of an awkward angle to actually see the falls.
Note that Manitou Falls is located within Pattison State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Little Manitou Falls
Little Manitou Falls is also on the Black River and is part of Pattison State Park. While Big Manitou Falls is the largest waterfall in Wisconsin, Little Manitou Falls is significantly smaller coming in at just 30 feet tall. Still it’s a great waterfall to visit. Maybe I’m biased because I was here early in the day, but I had Little Manitou Falls to myself whereas I shared all of the viewpoints of Big Manitou Falls with other people (despite visiting Big Manitou Falls prior to Little Manitou Falls).
There is a parking lot nearby Little Manitou Falls, so if you don’t want to hike, this could be an option. I choose to use the Beaver Trail to connect Big Manitou Falls to Little Manitou Falls. The trail was a nice walk. You’ll walk along Interfalls Lake and the Black River and get a little bit of forest as well. It’s about 1.5 miles from Big Manitou Falls to Little Manitou Falls with about 150 feet of elevation gain.
Note that Manitou Falls is located within Pattison State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Amnicon Falls
Amnicon Falls is the waterfall that gives Amnicon Falls State Park its name. There are two places to view the falls: the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. For most of the waterfalls with multiple views on this list, I have a preference about which view is better. At Amnicon Falls, I think both views are great and you can’t go wrong with either one. Those since you’re already here, I recommend walking to visit both.
Amnicon Falls is part of the Amnicon River and you can view the falls on both sides of it. There’s a covered between the two viewpoints that allows you easily to cross the river (and get some nice photos of the river).
Note that Amnicon Falls is located within Amnicon Falls State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Snake Pit Falls
Snake Pit Falls is another waterfall at Amnicon Falls State Park, but on my visit it felt less busy than the main falls. There were still people there but it seemed like many visitors of the park stopped near the covered bridge and just enjoyed those falls. That’s not a bad idea (because I think those falls are better than Snake Pit Falls), but since you’re in the area and it’s a short hike away, it’s worth stopping at Snake Pit Falls.
Overall, I’d say Snake Pit Falls is average. It was nice, but it was another waterfall that had an awkward angle. That said, it looked like there may have been a side trail (or at least a path worn by other visitors) that would allow you to get down to the river and get a better look at Snake Pit Falls. I didn’t do this, but it might have provided a nicer view and who knows, maybe I would have rated Snake Pit Falls higher.
Note that Snake Pit Falls is located within Amnicon Falls State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Morgan Falls
Morgan Falls is located within Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and it’s the second tallest waterfall in the state of Wisconsin (behind Big Manitou Falls). I expected big things from this waterfall, but it was just ok in my book. It was an awkward angle to get a really nice view of the falls, but I still managed to see it. The trail out to Morgan Falls comes in at about one mile, one way. In general it’s relatively flat, but there are a few hills.
I’m not sure if I’d suggest making the journey out just for Morgan Falls. However, if you keep hiking beyond Morgan Falls, you can follow the trail up to St. Peter’s Dome. With the detour to Morgan Falls, I logged 4.2 miles and 550 feet of elevation gain on the trail to St. Peter’s Dome. It was the most strenuous hike I did in northern Wisconsin (although I wouldn’t call the hike strenuous—it was more of a moderate hike). However, it was one of my favorite trails that I hiked because the view from St. Peter’s Dome was worth it (even if the mosquitos were vicious at the viewpoint).
So while Morgan Falls is average, adding on St. Peter’s Dome makes a stop here absolutely worth it.
Note that Morgan Falls is located within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and requires an entrance fee.
Now and Then Falls
Now and Then Falls is also located in Amnicon Falls State Park. It’s also easy to miss because most people focus on the more powerful river next door. Near the covered bridge, on the east side of the river, head south and you’ll eventually see a sign pointing to the falls.
Compared to the other waterfalls at Amnion Falls State Park, Now and Then Falls doesn’t feel as dramatic or exciting. But if you’re in the area to see Amnicon Falls, it just makes sense to include a quick stop at Now and Then Falls.
Note that Now and Then Falls is located within Amnicon Falls State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Red Granite Falls
While many visitors to Copper Falls State Park focus on the Doughboy Trail for Brownstone Falls and Copper Falls, Red Granite Falls is another waterfall that sits within the park’s boundary. To reach this waterfall, you’ll have to hike about a mile one way. For the entire Red Granite Falls Loop Trail, I logged 2.7 miles and 200 feet of elevation gain. The trail was nice, though I do think the Doughboy Trail offered more.
The falls are nice, but you’ll need to take one of the steeper paths down to the river to really see the falls (there’s a line of trees between the trail and Red Granite Falls. From there, you’ll get a little bit of rock scrambling as you try to get the best view. There’s a handful of these short trails to the falls. I picked the first one I came to, but there were several others to pick from.
Note that Red Granite Falls is located within Copper Falls State Park and requires an entrance fee.
Siskiwit Falls
Siskiwit Falls is just east of Cornucopia, Wisconsin. This is not my favorite waterfall I visited, not by a long shot, but for the right person, I think this waterfall can be a great addition to your visit to northern Wisconsin.
Unsurprisingly Siskiwit Falls sits on the Siskiwit River. The falls aren’t tall and the trail walks right along the flowing river. Since the waterfall isn’t very tall and the water current isn’t as strong as some of the other waterfalls on this list, this can be a great place to splash and dip your feet into the water. I visited on Memorial Day weekend and while it was a nice day, I wasn’t quite brave enough to dip my bare feet into the water. Later in summer, this could be a nice refreshing break.
Houghton Falls
Houghton Falls is part of the Houghton Falls Nature Preserve and is located just north of Washburn, Wisconsin. If I’m being honest, I was not impressed with this waterfall, though it should be mentioned that the water flow is seasonal so some parts of the year will be better than others.
That all said, I still think Houghton Falls is worth a visit. If you keep following the trail beyond the waterfall, you’ll eventually reach Lake Superior and the area out here is beautiful. I visited early in the day and that meant that I had the area entirely to myself which was lovely. And since this is an easier trail, it’s a great place for those who want to get up close to the rock formations, but don’t want a big workout can visit (though it won’t be as dramatic as the sea caves located elsewhere along the Apostle Islands Lakeshore).
On my hike, which took me past Houghton Falls and all the way out to Lake Superior, I logged 1.4 miles and 120 feet of elevation gain. It took me 45 minutes but that’s because I spent a decent time soaking in the views at the empty Lake Superior viewpoint.
Note that the parking lot for this trail has automatic locking gates, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the time. The parking lot and nature preserve is open from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm.
Orienta Falls
Orienta Falls is part of the Iron River and is located west of Port Wing. The waterfall is fine, but the trail to get here can be sketchy. It’s short at only 0.05 to 0.1 miles, but it’s rocky, uneven, full of tree roots, and can be steep in certain places. If you’re unsteady on your feet, this is a waterfall to skip.
The view is nice, though I could see some plastic chairs on the other side of the river and I couldn’t help but find myself wondering how they managed to get over there. If you follow Google Maps, it will take you to the official DNR parking lot, so I’m guessing the those chairs might be on private property. Bummer!
Twin Falls
Twin Falls is just outside of Port Wing, Wisconsin and as you might be able to guess, there’s two streams of water that make up these falls. There’s two ways to view Twin Falls. There’s an upper trail that will take you to a viewing platform where you can look down at the falls. The other trail, that I took (before I realized there was two trails) went down along the river bed. I had to jump over the water and my shoes got a bit wet, but it was more adventurous. Down on the river bed, you get to look up at the falls, which I think is just a better view.
Regardless of which trail you choose, expect about 0.3 of walking miles round trip.
Lost Creek Falls
Lost Creek Falls is just south of Cornucopia, Wisconsin. This trail requires some hiking though I found the signs at the parking lot misleading. The signs state that the trail is 1.5 miles one way, but I followed the trail and made it to the falls in 1.2 miles. So I logged 2.4 miles (not the 3 miles that was advertised) and 240 feet of elevation gain.
The falls are nice though I didn’t stay long to appreciate them. People with a portable speaker were nearby and I didn’t enjoy their choice of music. If you’re up for a hike though, Lost Creek Falls can be another nice addition to your itinerary.
More Waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin
As mentioned earlier in this post, this is not every waterfall in northern Wisconsin. Here’s some other notable falls to consider if you aren’t completely waterfall-ed out.
Kimball Park Falls is located near Hurley, Wisconsin and the Wisconsin-Michigan state line. These falls are part of the Montreal River and are about 10 feet high.
Lake of the Falls is the furthest south on this list and is just southwest of Mercer, Wisconsin. Another set of falls about 10 feet high, Lake of the Falls is part of the Turtle River.
Shay’s Dam Falls is also on the Turtle River and is northeast of Mercer, Wisconsin. These falls are slightly taller than Lake of the Falls, coming in at about 15 feet.
Rouse Falls is the most remote falls on this list and is just west of Upton, Wisconsin. This includes a .75 mile hike to reach the falls.
Spring Camp Falls is south of Hurley, Wisconsin and is about 20 feet high. Follow the signs to help direct you to the falls.
Wren Falls is 15 high on the Tyler Forks River and requires a hike up a hill to reach the falls.
Upson Falls is on the Potato River and is 18 feet high and is unsurprisingly located near Upson, Wisconsin.
Which Are the Best Waterfalls in Northern Wisconsin?
I don’t think you could go wrong with any of the waterfalls on this list. That said, my favorites were Interstate Falls, Brownstone Falls, and Big Manitou Falls.
I also have to give an honorable mentions to Houghton Falls and Morgan Falls. The Houghton Falls waterfall wasn’t exciting (perhaps it would be better with higher water flowage), but the views of Lake Superior in the nature preserve were amazing. Likewise, Morgan Falls didn’t blow my mind, but continuing on the trail to St. Peter’s Dome was excellent.
More in Northern Wisconsin
Northern Wisconsin has so much more to offer than just waterfalls. Obviously there are some hikes included on this list, but there are plenty more to be found. Some of my favorites include the Doughboy Trail at Copper Falls State Park, Thimbleberry Trail at Amnicon Falls State Park, the Beaver Trail at Pattison State Park, St. Peter’s Dome at Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and the trail through the Houghton Falls State Natural Area.
Also in the very north of Wisconsin, you’ll find the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. You’ll find more hiking trails on the mainland, but getting out to see the rock formation of the islands is what’s really special. Either take a scenic cruise from Bayfield or hit the lake in a kayak.
Madeline Island also makes a great day trip from the mainland. Visit the main town of La Pointe or head to Big Bay State Park.
When to Visit Northern Wisconsin
When people think of Wisconsin weather, they likely think of snow and cold. That’s not an unreasonable assumption as winters here can be cold, snowy, and brutal. While you’ll find some winter activities here like cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and a few others, for most visitors, you’ll want to look to warmer weather.
There is one exception. If the conditions are right, the sea caves at the Apostle Islands freeze and people can walk through the Ice Caves. The conditions haven’t been right for several years, but it’s something to be aware of.
By far the most popular time to visit northern Wisconsin is during the summer months. This is when you’ll have the warmest weather (a definite plus while spending time near Lake Superior) but also the highest prices. Summers in Wisconsin can also get very humid, so keep that in mind.
During the fall months, the changing leaves make everything in Wisconsin a gorgeous color. Temperatures are cooler which can be both good and bad. Summer crowds have also diminished but that may mean limited availability for activities near the Apostle Islands.
Final Thoughts
There are no shortage of waterfalls in northern Wisconsin. If I’m being really honest, there’s no shortage of beautiful places, period, in northern Wisconsin. The abundance of waterfalls and short, nice hikes, make this my favorite part of Wisconsin. So while you may be visiting for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, don’t miss out on some of the amazing waterfalls in this region.
Continue Your Adventure
More in Wisconsin: In Door County, don’t miss the gorgeous parks and endless hiking opportunities. Further south on the shores of Lake Michigan is Kohler Andrae State Park, which is one of my favorites. About an hour north of Madison, you’ll find Wisconsin Dells and Devil’s Lake State Park.
More in the Midwest: South of Wisconsin is Illinois and the city of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. To the southwest of Wisconsin is Iowa with its fun Maquoketa Caves State Park.